DNA sequences for six chloroplast loci concatenated, representing haplotypes found in Colocasia esculenta, and closely related Araceae

As an ancient clonal root and leaf crop, taro (Colocasia esculenta) is highly polymorphic with uncertain genetic and geographic origins. We explored chloroplast DNA variation in wild and cultivated taros and other Colocasia species, and found cultivated taro to be polyphyletic, with tropical and temperate clades originating in Southeast Asia. A third clade was found exclusively in wild populations from Southeast Asia to Australia and Papua New Guinea. Our findings do not support the hypothesis of taro domestication in Papua New Guinea.